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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Wahhabi opponent killed in Iran | Wahhabi opponent killed in Iran |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Shia cleric known for his stance against Wahhabism, a strict version of Sunni Islam, has been killed in the south-western Iranian city of Ahwaz. | A Shia cleric known for his stance against Wahhabism, a strict version of Sunni Islam, has been killed in the south-western Iranian city of Ahwaz. |
| Reports said Hojjat ol-Eslam Hesham Seymari was shot dead in his home at night by two men claiming to know him. | Reports said Hojjat ol-Eslam Hesham Seymari was shot dead in his home at night by two men claiming to know him. |
| Wahhabism is practised throughout the Arabian Peninsula, most notably by the ruling family of Saudi Arabia. | Wahhabism is practised throughout the Arabian Peninsula, most notably by the ruling family of Saudi Arabia. |
| Ahwaz, home to a large community of ethnic minority Arabs, has seen much anti-government tension since 2005. | Ahwaz, home to a large community of ethnic minority Arabs, has seen much anti-government tension since 2005. |
| Iran has publicly hanged 10 men convicted of taking part in a series of deadly bombings in the city last year, which were blamed on Arab separatists allegedly backed by the UK. | Iran has publicly hanged 10 men convicted of taking part in a series of deadly bombings in the city last year, which were blamed on Arab separatists allegedly backed by the UK. |
| The separatists have accused Iran's Persian majority of discrimination. | The separatists have accused Iran's Persian majority of discrimination. |
| 'Martyrdom' | 'Martyrdom' |
| Reporting Hojjat ol-Eslam Seymari's death on Tuesday, the hardline Iranian newspaper Keyhan described the cleric as a "skilful speaker who brought awareness to the youth about deviating movements, especially Wahhabism". | Reporting Hojjat ol-Eslam Seymari's death on Tuesday, the hardline Iranian newspaper Keyhan described the cleric as a "skilful speaker who brought awareness to the youth about deviating movements, especially Wahhabism". |
| Hojjat ol-Eslam Seymari supervised 20 mosques and "stood against the Wahhabis' investment and strong onslaught in the city of Ahvaz", the paper added. | Hojjat ol-Eslam Seymari supervised 20 mosques and "stood against the Wahhabis' investment and strong onslaught in the city of Ahvaz", the paper added. |
| The representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in Khuzestan Province said the cleric had been martyred "at the hands of the mercenaries of Satan". | The representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in Khuzestan Province said the cleric had been martyred "at the hands of the mercenaries of Satan". |
| "Our enemies should know that his martyrdom will guide the nation, keep alive the values and principles of the exalted Muslim faith," Mohammad Ali Jazayeri said in a statement. | "Our enemies should know that his martyrdom will guide the nation, keep alive the values and principles of the exalted Muslim faith," Mohammad Ali Jazayeri said in a statement. |
| "Islam will remain alive and the enemies of Islam will die and receive a fitting punishment." | "Islam will remain alive and the enemies of Islam will die and receive a fitting punishment." |
| Wahhabism was founded by Mohammed Bin Abdul-Wahhab in 18th Century Arabia as an Islamic reform movement which felt that the local practice of Islam had lost its original purity. | Wahhabism was founded by Mohammed Bin Abdul-Wahhab in 18th Century Arabia as an Islamic reform movement which felt that the local practice of Islam had lost its original purity. |
| The movement formed an alliance with the founders of the Saudi dynasty which continues today. A modern militant version of Wahhabism is espoused by Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda organisation. | The movement formed an alliance with the founders of the Saudi dynasty which continues today. A modern militant version of Wahhabism is espoused by Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda organisation. |
| Followers do not describe themselves as Wahhabis, preferring the term Tawhid to describe their movement. Some view Shia Islam as a heterodox sect. |